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Why
Learn Earth Science?
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Understanding
the Earth has been a preoccupation of scientists and philosophers for
thousands of years.
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Remember,
you live on the Earth!
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An understanding
and appreciation of the processes that govern the Earth is essential to a
responsible life on this planet.
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This
knowledge will allow you to make more informed decisions about how you use
and conserve the Earth's many resources.
What is Earth
Science?
Earth Science is
not so much a science as it is several sciences. When you learn Earth
Science, you will be studying many topics, including:
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Geology
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the
study of the Earth's surface (rocks) and interior.
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Astronomy
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the study
of the universe that the Earth is a part of.
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Meteorology
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the
study of weather and the Earth's atmosphere.
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Oceanography
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the
study of the earth's oceans.
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The study of these sciences is both diverse and challenging.
It will allow you to find the answers to many questions that you may have
about the world around you. It will explain things that you may have taken
for granted for years, like:
- Clouds
- Stars
- Waves
- Rocks
- Earthquakes
If you learn the content of this course, you will have a
much greater understanding of the world around you. A study of Earth
Science should naturally begin with a basic understanding of the Earth
itself. In the next section we will begin to understand and appreciate the
Earth's size, shape, and makeup.
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